St Brelade cars targeted in ‘mindless vandalism’
Tuesday 14th April 2009, 2:56PM BST.
A GANG of youths caused more than £15,000 worth of damage to vehicles during an early-morning wrecking spree.
The youngsters smashed windscreens, dented bonnets, ripped off car badges and wing-mirrors and trashed a bus and two lorries as they walked from St Ouen through parts of St Brelade at 3.30 am on Saturday.
Police said that at least 11 vehicles were attacked, causing at least £15,000 worth of damage. Some residents say that the total cost is likely to be more than £20,000.
It is believed that La Moye Garage and Les Creux Country Park suffered the worst damage, with several vehicles being trashed.
• Picture: Nick Durbano, who lives in Route Orange, with his van with the grid ripped off. Two of his cars suffered more than £1,000 worth of damage. Picture by David ferguson (00666872)
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The Dean of Jersey speaks of social inclusion and others look for excuses as to why youths commit crime. The reasons crime is flourishing is because there are insufficient police on the street and therefore youngsters have little fear of being caught. Even if they are caught they often get off lightly because of the intervention of probation officers, or ill informed Centeniers. What these vandals need is firstly to be caught, followed by a sort sharp shock and some form of punishment that will deter similar behaviour.If these youths want to be treated with respect and have social inclusion they need to behave. I doubt the Dean ever committed malicious damage, so why does he make excuses for others?
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If this sort of damage is covered and eventually paid by Insurance companies it will mean higher premiums for us. I say hold the parents responsible for the cost of repairs due to the actions of these youths (for want of a better word) I remember when my now mid twenties son caused minor damage to housing property we had to foot the bill. He learned the error of his ways by suffering a curfew and lack of pocket money. It seems over the last few years the more these kids get, the more they want and if you don’t give then this is the behaviour you are repaid with.
I hope the courts take a serious stance on this and not dish out a slapped hand.
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Why oh why are we still reporting this rubbish, Nothing will change until we have a legal system that says you knew what you were doing you are responsible irrespective of age or sex!
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Come down on them HARD-get rid of the do-gooders it seems for Jersey it is to late ?????
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A change in the law needs to be made pretty damn quick, these teenagers are getting away with behaving out of order and the effect of it is that the next lot of damage caused by them is twice as worse. Who knows what damage they will cause next time and u can bet that they are highly likely to be drunk when they are doing it. Under age drinking acceptable in Jersey, trashing peoples belongings acceptable in Jersey…out of order!…
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Forget the police – where were these kids parents?! Were they not aware that their kids were out at 3:30am? If not, why not? If so, what were they doing about it?
I’m sick and tired of people laying the blame at the feet of “them” (police/government/authorities/etc) for not doing enough, when the blame lies squarely and unquestionably with the parents.
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Well said Mogit and Mike.
£20,000 (+) from these kids and their parents to pay for the damage and also monetary compensation on top. And before someone says, ‘what if they don’t have that kind of money’… well they should have raised their kids better then!
If kids get picked up by the police then the police should have the power to enforce a curfew on those kids meaning that the parents have to keep them at home outwith school hours for a certain period of time. Make them do some actual parenting.
This is getting out of hand, either we crack down or we have vigilantes… I would kind of prefer the latter (taste of their own medicine and all that) but then it would get out of hand also! Crack down now!
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I dont think it has anything to do with the lack of police, or their so called incompentince. this lies with the courts who let them off with a warning so they can go do it again.
The police lock them up, or take them home to parents who either dont care where their little ‘angels’ are, or who have just given up with their little monsters, because they dont know how to tame them.
The states should give the police more power to be able to do their job more sufficently, in order to teach these kids a lesson.
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How do you make people who don’t care, care?
What about gathering all the youngsters’ iPods, game consoles and mobiles and making them watch while they’re crushed/set light to/smashed? That’s how other people feel when their cars, windows and gardens are trashed.
MOST people in Jersey work hard for the money they get and the things they buy with it. Anyone that wants respect has to give it too – whatever age they are.
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there has been a great deal of vandalism in st Brelade and near les creux and la moye school. the culprits’ parents should be questioned as to why their children were out so late and they should be made to pay for the damage. both parents and vandals will soon learn! there should also be a curfew set for children under the age of 17. any child found wandering the streets or parks at night should be taken to head quarters by the police and their parents made to collect them and pay for the police time and effort. i am sure that would sort the problem out very quickly. perhaps the parents should be named and shamed!
it would also be a good idea for the parish to provide places for teenagers to meet and enjoy themselves legally. but the usual excuses are always given lack of finance and people to do the job.
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